10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
12 When they were filled, He said unto His disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
This miracle was a partial fulfillment of Psalm 132:13-15 — For the LORD hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for His habitation. This is My rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. It will be fully realized in the Millennial Kingdom.
That prophet — The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; according to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not (Deuteronomy 18:15-16). In John 1:21, the Jews thought John the Baptist was “that prophet.”
5,000 men = literally, in Greek, “males” — plus women and children
grass — green pastures — peace and provision
as much as they would — it was “all you can eat.”
when they were filled — contrast this with Philip’s statement in verse 7 — “everyone may take a little.”
filled twelve baskets — the abundance of grace.
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